OnePlus 13S Plus Key: The AI Button That Will Replace The Beloved Alert Slider

When it comes to AI, every phone these days is bragging about “smart” features. But here’s the real question: is OnePlus’s Plus Key on the upcoming OnePlus 13s something genuinely fresh, or is it just another clever marketing spin on an idea we’ve seen before? Let’s break it down.

Meet the Plus Key – A Button That Does More Than Mute

The Plus Key is OnePlus’s new customizable side button that replaces the fan-favorite Alert Slider. Gone are the days of simply toggling between sound modes. With the Plus Key, you can remap the button for a variety of tasks: from launching the camera to triggering AI Plus Mind—an AI feature that automatically captures and organizes important content from your screen.

You see, when you’re browsing the web or checking your calendar, AI Plus Mind is ready to grab and store anything relevant. So, when you see an event or reservation, you can save it with just a press of the Plus Key or a three-finger swipe (no need to fumble through menus). It’s all neatly organized in a special “Mind Space” for later reference. Essentially, OnePlus is giving you a pocket-sized personal assistant with a button.

Cool Concept, But Have We Seen This Before?

OnePlus didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel with the Plus Key. The idea of a customizable AI button is something we’ve already seen with brands like Nothing, which launched its Essential Key. Like the Plus Key, it’s a physical button designed to trigger AI functions that capture and organize screen content.

But here's where OnePlus shines: it made the concept better, at least for now. Nothing’s version seemed undercooked, and users found it difficult to access when they needed it the most. OnePlus’ idea, on the other hand, sounds more intuitive. The Plus Key is fully customizable and offers you more options, like instantly launching your camera or switching sound profiles. And if you don’t want to use it for AI Plus Mind, no problem – it can be turned off.

The three-finger swipe also ensures that users aren’t stuck if the Plus Key is already set to something else. So, in terms of functionality, OnePlus has fine-tuned what was a good idea, making it much more user-friendly.

Apple, Samsung, and Nothing: Who’s Got the Edge?

Apple’s Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro is kind of the same idea, but it doesn’t do AI in the same way. You can use it for shortcuts, launching apps, or triggering the camera, but it’s not tied into an AI system that organizes your digital life.

Samsung’s customizable buttons have been about AI-powered software rather than dedicated hardware buttons like the Plus Key. Its Bixby button was a bit of a miss (RIP), but now Samsung focuses more on AI-driven routines and Bixby integration.

As for Nothing—while its Essential Key is the closest competitor, it’s not exactly flawless. Nothing’s Essential Space feature tried to organize content but had mixed reviews on execution. It lacked the fluidity and seamless experience OnePlus is promising with the Plus Key. OnePlus’s button seems more intuitive, and the addition of the three-finger gesture gives it an edge over Nothing’s system.

What’s the Real Deal?

If you’re someone who needs to capture and organize information on the go, the Plus Key might come in handy. Whether it’s saving an event from your browser or grabbing a recipe from a screenshot. AI Plus Mind does the heavy lifting by intelligently categorizing your content, so you don’t have to spend time organizing it later.

OnePlus also promises that the more you use it, the smarter the AI gets at identifying what’s important to you. So, this feature isn’t just for now—it’s supposed to get better over time, adapting to your preferences and needs.

The Plus Key isn’t the most original idea. It’s an evolution of what other brands have done before. Nothing’s Essential Key, Apple’s Action Button, and even Samsung’s old Bixby button all led the way for something like this. But, that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. OnePlus seems to have refined it into something practical and easy to use, which is what matters to consumers.

The real question is whether OnePlus can make it work consistently. If AI Plus Mind performs as promised—organizing and categorizing your digital life with minimal effort—it’ll be a standout feature. If it’s clunky, it might just be another feature that sounds great on paper but doesn’t deliver in real-world use.